Infiltration: BJP asks government to summon Pakistan envoy

New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS) Expressing concern over the increased infiltration bids from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir, the Bharartiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday asked the government to summon the Pakistan high commissioner over the issue.“The government reacted strongly when the Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked. However, now there have been rising incidents of infiltration (across the LoC - the de facto border) bids under covering fire from the Pakistan Army,” BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

“We want to know how strongly the centre would take up the issue with Pakistan intending to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

He said there was a need for taking tough diplomatic steps and deploy the army on the border.

Pakistan and India are currently committed to observing a ceasefire agreement signed in December 2003. However, India alleges that Pakistani troopers were violating the truce.

During April and August, there have been at least 29 instances when Pakistani troopers allegedly fired at Indian posts on the LoC to give covering fire to militants. One incident was reported in April, two in May and seven in June. The figure rose to 10 in July, while nine violations have taken place so far in August.

The truce violations apart, infiltration from across the border is the other major issue the Indian Army faces in Kashmir.

According to intelligence reports, over 800 terrorists are waiting in launch pads across the border to sneak into Kashmir.

Infiltration into Kashmir normally begins at the end of March when the snows in the Himalayan ranges melt and the passes become accessible. Between March and July, the Indian Army says, there have been over 130 infiltration bids, of which just about 20 succeeded.